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crash

KRASH /kræʃ/

verbnounB2

informaltechnical

To suddenly stop working or fail, especially in a way that causes a computer or system to become inoperable.

Implies an abrupt, often total, and uncontrolled failure of a system or program, usually resulting in data loss or the need for a restart.

The story behind the word. The word 'crash' is onomatopoeic, meaning it imitates the sound it describes – a loud, sudden noise of something breaking or falling. Its use to describe the sudden failure of a computer system emerged in the 1960s and 70s, drawing a vivid parallel between a physical impact and the abrupt, destructive halt of a machine's operation. It captures the suddenness and finality of such a failure.

Word relationships

fail: More general; 'crash' implies a sudden, often catastrophic, failure.
break down: Often used for mechanical systems, 'crash' is more common for software/digital systems.
collapse: Suggests a more widespread and systemic failure.

function: To operate correctly.
run: To operate continuously without interruption.

Commonly confused with

freeze: A 'freeze' means the system stops responding but might still be running in the background. A 'crash' means the system has failed completely and often requires a restart.
malfunction: A 'malfunction' means something is not working correctly. A 'crash' is a specific, severe type of malfunction where the system completely stops.

Word family

crasher (noun): something that causes a crash (e.g., a program)

Collocations

system crash
hard drive crash
software crash
crash report
crash and burn

Idioms & expressions

crash a party: to attend a party without an invitation
crash course: a rapid and intensive course of instruction

Example sentences

"The server would frequently crash under heavy load, leading to significant downtime for our website." Describing a computer system failure.
"My photo editing software keeps crashing every time I try to apply that specific filter, making it impossible to finish my project." A user's experience with an unstable application.
"The stock market trading system experienced a sudden crash, halting all transactions for several hours." A news report about a system failure.

Memory hook

When your computer 'CRASHES', it makes a loud, metaphorical 'CRASH' sound as it breaks down. CRASH = loud, sudden stop

When not to use

Do not use 'crash' for minor, temporary issues like a 'glitch' or 'lag'. It signifies a more severe and immediate failure.

Fun facts

The term 'crash' for computer failure became common in the 1970s, as personal computers became more widespread.
Before computers, 'crash' was often used to describe the sudden failure of a business or financial market.

Related words

freeze, breakdown

Explore more words

debacle, go down in flames, defunct, clash, Bust, bite the dust